with, I believe, the BBC, after the first Forsyte Saga was released for viewing, during which she made the comment that she wished Galsworthy had made Irene more human and with some flaws. Irene was always beautiful and ageless, which made her character a bit bland and unreachable. I remember Ms. Porter saying that she would read the books, hoping to find that Irene had gotten fat, or something! She was laughing when she made the comment, but I always thought she had a valid point. Irene and Fleur are the two female characters who have always shown (to me, anyway)two opposite ends of the spectrum of beauty. Irene is changeless and perfect, and Fleur is in constant motion, always evolving. I always have thought the casting of the first Forsyte Saga was just about the best that could ever be done. There was a movie made with Greer Garson, I think, in the role of Irene, called 'That Forsyte Woman'. It was a total disappointment, and caused me to feel a lot of skepticism when the first FS was announced. Happily, my doubts were unfounded...